ABN AMRO among the banks in the classroom

Every year, National Money Week (25 through 29 March) sees thousands of keen bank employees provide around 4,000 financial education lessons at Dutch primary schools. ABN AMRO joined in for the ninth time this year and put CEO Kees van Dijkhuizen in front of a classroom in Breda at the week’s festive opening on 25 March. This year’s theme: ‘Are you managing your money like a pro?’

Banks in the classroom

Since 2011, the Dutch Banking Association (NVB) and its members have run a joint Bank voor de klas programme for financial education, with guest lessons provided to children in the highest three primary school year-groups. Every year, Bank voor de klas (‘banks in the classroom’) creates a new Cash Quiz, an exciting and interactive game about handling money. The game is played by the children being taught in the guest lesson, with the bank employee acting as quizmaster. The Cash Quiz reflects the financial education learning goals as defined by the National Institute for Family Finance Information (NIBUD). For more information, click here (Dutch only).

ABN AMRO

ABN AMRO has been part of the Bank voor de klas programme from the start and, every year, hundreds of ABN AMRO employees pitch in to help children gain awareness of handling money in National Money Week. In 2019, 250 ABN AMRO employees will be giving around 400 guest lessons at schools across the country.

Kees van Dijkhuizen, ABN AMRO’s CEO, observed: “Obviously, talking about money isn’t something all households do. ABN AMRO feels it’s important that children are taught how to handle money responsibly and are familiar with financial matters from an early age – and we are happy to contribute our expertise.”

Rest of the year

ABN AMRO has joined forces with NIBUD to develop ‘Managing your money like a pro’, and the bank’s staff provide guest lessons to children in the final four years of primary school throughout the year. The programme takes a playful approach and touches on a range of financial themes, such as ‘How to be a smart saver’, ‘The risks of borrowing money’, but also ‘How does advertising affect you?’ and ‘How do you deal with the temptation to buy things?’